Notice2021-12612
Identifying Barriers in USDA Programs and Services; Advancing Racial Justice and Equity and Support for Underserved Communities at USDA
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Published
June 16, 2021
Issuing agencies
Agriculture Department
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting input from the public on how it can advance racial justice and equity for underserved communities as part of its implementation of Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. USDA is requesting input to identify barriers that people of color and underserved communities and individuals may face in obtaining information from USDA. This includes accessing, enrolling, and participating in USDA programs and services, and engaging with USDA staff. USDA seeks to identify opportunities in current USDA policies, regulations, and guidance to address systemic inequities. USDA requests input on how to best engage external stakeholders and community members representing marginalized, vulnerable, or underserved communities in order to increase participation in USDA programs, services, committees and decision- making processes. In the months ahead, USDA will establish a Racial Equity Commission. The Racial Equity Commission will focus specifically on addressing systemic impediments to equity in USDA programs. USDA is asking for comments on any and all interactions with USDA programs. All comments will be aggregated, summarized, and shared with USDA Leadership and the Racial Equity Commission. The Racial Equity Commission may choose to seek additional input to meet its goals and objectives. USDA will continue to reach out to stakeholders and community members for the purposes of Executive Order 13985 and to fulfill its mission.
Full Text
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32013-32015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12612]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 114 / Wednesday, June 16, 2021 /
Notices
[[Page 32013]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
[Docket ID: USDA-2021-0006]
Identifying Barriers in USDA Programs and Services; Advancing
Racial Justice and Equity and Support for Underserved Communities at
USDA
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Request for information.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting input
from the public on how it can advance racial justice and equity for
underserved communities as part of its implementation of Executive
Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved
Communities Through the Federal Government. USDA is requesting input to
identify barriers that people of color and underserved communities and
individuals may face in obtaining information from USDA. This includes
accessing, enrolling, and participating in USDA programs and services,
and engaging with USDA staff. USDA seeks to identify opportunities in
current USDA policies, regulations, and guidance to address systemic
inequities. USDA requests input on how to best engage external
stakeholders and community members representing marginalized,
vulnerable, or underserved communities in order to increase
participation in USDA programs, services, committees and decision-
making processes. In the months ahead, USDA will establish a Racial
Equity Commission. The Racial Equity Commission will focus specifically
on addressing systemic impediments to equity in USDA programs. USDA is
asking for comments on any and all interactions with USDA programs. All
comments will be aggregated, summarized, and shared with USDA
Leadership and the Racial Equity Commission. The Racial Equity
Commission may choose to seek additional input to meet its goals and
objectives. USDA will continue to reach out to stakeholders and
community members for the purposes of Executive Order 13985 and to
fulfill its mission.
DATES: We will consider comments received by July 15, 2021.
ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. You may
submit comments, identified by Docket ID: FSA-2021-0006, by any of the
following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments. All public comments received are subject to the Freedom of
Information Act and will be posted in their entirety at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, including any personal or business confidential
information provided. Do not include any information you would not like
to be made publicly available.
Written responses should not exceed 20 pages, inclusive of a 1-page
cover page as described below. Attachments or linked resources or
documents are not included in the 20-page limit. Please respond
concisely, in plain language, and in narrative format. You may respond
to some or all of the questions listed in this document. Please ensure
it is clear which question you are responding to. You may also include
links to online material or interactive presentations but please ensure
all links are publicly available. Each response should include:
<bullet> The name of the individual(s) and organization responding;
<bullet> The Area section(s) (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5) that your
submission and materials support;
<bullet> A brief description of the responding individual(s) or
organization's mission or areas of expertise, including any public-
private partnerships with Federal, State, tribal, territorial, or local
governments within the past 3 years that are relevant to this document;
and
<bullet> A contact for questions or other follow-up on your
response.
By responding to this document, each participant (individual, team,
or legal entity) warrants that they are the sole author or owner of, or
has the right to use, any copyrightable works that are included in the
submission, that the works are wholly original (or is an improved
version of an existing work that the participant has sufficient rights
to use and improve), and that the submission does not infringe any
copyright or any other rights of any third party of which the
participant is aware.
Comments previously submitted during the Tribal Consultation on the
Racial Equity Executive Order do not need to be resubmitted; your
comments will be included in this record.
Participants will not be required to transfer their intellectual
property rights to USDA, but participants must grant to the Federal
government a nonexclusive license to apply, share, and use the
materials that are included in the submission. To participate, each
participant must warrant that there are no legal obstacles to providing
the above-referenced nonexclusive licenses of participant rights to the
Federal government.
Interested parties who respond to this document may be contacted
for a follow-up strategic agency assessment dialogue, discussion,
event, crowdsource campaign, or competition.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Issues regarding submission or
questions can be sent to Liz Archuleta--phone number: 202-720-7095; or
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#743105011d000d26323d34010710155a131b02"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4e0b3f3b273a371c08070e3b3d2a2f60292138">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for
Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, states:
Equal opportunity is the bedrock of American democracy, and our
diversity is one of our country's greatest strengths. But for too
many, the American Dream remains out of reach. Entrenched
disparities in our laws and public policies, and in our public and
private institutions, have often denied that equal opportunity to
individuals and communities. Our country faces converging economic,
health, and climate crises that have exposed and exacerbated
inequities, while a historic movement for justice has highlighted
the unbearable human costs of systemic racism. Our Nation deserves
an ambitious whole-of-government equity agenda that matches the
scale of the opportunities and challenges that we face.
It is therefore the policy of my Administration that the Federal
Government should pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing
equity for all, including people of color and others who have been
historically
[[Page 32014]]
underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent
poverty and inequality. Affirmatively advancing equity, civil
rights, racial justice, and equal opportunity is the responsibility
of the whole of our Government. Because advancing equity requires a
systematic approach to embedding fairness in decision-making
processes, executive departments and agencies (agencies) must
recognize and work to redress inequities in their policies and
programs that serve as barriers to equal opportunity.
By advancing equity across the Federal Government, we can create
opportunities for the improvement of communities that have been
historically underserved, which benefits everyone. For example, an
analysis shows that closing racial gaps in wages, housing credit,
lending opportunities, and access to higher education would amount
to an additional $5 trillion in gross domestic product in the
American economy over the next 5 years. The Federal government's
goal in advancing equity is to provide everyone with the opportunity
to reach their full potential. Consistent with these aims, each
agency must assess whether, and to what extent, its programs and
policies perpetuate systemic barriers to opportunities and benefits
for people of color and other underserved groups. Such assessments
will better equip agencies to develop policies and programs that
deliver resources and benefits equitably to all.
Definitions
The term ``equity'' means the consistent and systematic fair, just,
and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who
belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment,
such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons,
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color;
members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live
in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent
poverty or inequality.
The term ``underserved communities'' means populations sharing a
particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have
been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects
of economic, social, and civic life, as exemplified by the list in the
preceding definition of ``equity.''
Required Assessment and Plan
Within 200 days of the date of Executive Order 13985 (by August 8,
2021), agencies must submit to the Assistant to the President for
Domestic Policy an assessment of the state of equity for underserved
communities and individuals, including on the following points, for
example:
<bullet> Barriers that underserved communities and individuals may
face to enrollment in and access to benefits and services in Federal
programs;
<bullet> Barriers that underserved communities and individuals may
face in participation in agency procurement and contracting
opportunities;
<bullet> Barriers that underserved communities and individuals may
face in participation in agency grant programs and other forms of
financial assistance;
<bullet> Opportunities in current agency policies, regulations, and
guidance to address affirmatively and equitably the underlying causes
of systemic inequities in society;
<bullet> Opportunities in agency community engagement processes to
engage with and empower marginalized, vulnerable, or underserved
communities more directly to advance equitable policymaking; and
<bullet> The operational status and level of institutional
resources available to agency offices or divisions responsible for
advancing civil rights or required to serve underrepresented or
disadvantaged communities.
Within one year of the date of Executive Order 13985 (by January
19, 2022), the head of each agency will develop a plan for addressing
any barriers to full and equal participation in programs and
procurement opportunities identified in its assessment. Such a plan
could include establishing ongoing routines to assess and rectify gaps
in full and equal participation in programs and procurement
opportunities.
Key Principles
Advancing equity must be a core part of management and policy
making processes. Achieving equity must go beyond delivering special
projects or programs that focus on underserved communities. Equity must
be a central component of the decision-making framework that all agency
functions are routed through.
Successful equity work yields tangible changes that positively
impact the lives of people in the United States. Equity is not just a
set of values; it must also be a set of outcomes.
Equity benefits everyone. If we close the gaps in income, wealth,
and financial security for families across the country, our economy
will grow. It's up to all of us as leaders to carry this message, and
to demonstrate that advancing equity is not a zero-sum game that
benefits some communities at the expense of others.
Customer Experience Questions
USDA is requesting customer experience input on the following
questions where applicable:
1. Have you applied for or accessed USDA programs and services in
the past? If so, please describe your experience.
2. If you have not applied for or accessed USDA programs and
services in the past, why not? What would have made it easier for you
to apply or access USDA programs and services?
3. How can USDA, its cooperators, grantees, and partners, better
share information with underserved stakeholders about our programs and
services? What are the best ways to notify and engage underserved
stakeholders about new programs and services or changes to existing
services?
4. Describe your experience(s) interacting with USDA staff when
trying to access USDA programs and services. How were they helpful? Are
local USDA offices staffed sufficiently and do they provide good
customer service? What are areas for improvement?
5. Are USDA agency websites helpful in providing useful information
on programs and services, explaining how specific programs and services
work, and explaining how applications for participation are considered?
What are areas for improvement?
6. What are the barriers to applying for loan and grant programs?
How can USDA make loan and grant processes easier to understand and
more accessible to underserved groups?
7. Have you attended stakeholder meetings and informational
sessions in the past? Describe when and how helpful and useful the
information was including follow-up by USDA.
General Questions
USDA is also requesting input on the following general questions
where applicable:
1. Have you experienced injustice, inequity or unfairness in one or
more USDA programs? If so, which ones? Please explain the situation(s).
2. Have you had difficulty accessing one or more USDA programs? If
so, which ones? Please explain the difficulty.
3. Did you experience problems with required USDA paperwork, the
USDA internet sites, the attitudes of USDA workers, or the locations of
USDA offices?
4. Are there USDA policies, practices, or programs that perpetuate
systemic barriers to opportunities and benefits for people of color or
other underserved groups? How can those programs be
[[Page 32015]]
modified, expanded, or made less complicated or streamlined, to deliver
resources and benefits more equitably?
5. How can USDA establish and maintain connections to a wider and
more diverse set of stakeholders representing underserved communities?
6. Please describe USDA programs or interactions that have worked
well for underserved communities. What successful approaches to
advancing justice and equity have been undertaken by USDA that you
recommend be used as a model for other programs or areas?
7. Does USDA currently collect information, use forms, or require
documentation that impede access to USDA programs or are not effective
to achieve program objectives? If so, what are they and how can USDA
revise them to reduce confusion or frustration, and increase equity in
access to USDA programs?
8. Is there information you believe USDA currently collects that it
does not need to achieve statutory or regulatory objectives?
9. Are there data-sharing activities in which USDA agencies should
engage, so that repetitive collections of the same data do not occur
from one USDA component to the next?
10. How can USDA use technology to improve customer service? Do you
have suggestions on how technology or online services can help
streamline and reduce regulatory or policy requirements? What are those
technological programs or processes and how can USDA use them to
achieve equity for all?
11. Are there sources of external data and metrics that USDA can
use to evaluate the effects on underserved communities of USDA policies
or regulations? If so, please identify or describe them.
12. What suggestions do you have for how USDA can effectively
assess and measure its outreach and inclusion of underserved groups and
individuals?
13. How can USDA remove or reduce barriers that underserved
communities and individuals face when they participate or attempt to
participate in agency procurement and contracting opportunities?
14. Have you made recommendations for improvement in the past to
USDA? If so, please list or attach those recommendations.
Civil Rights Compliant
Information submitted through this document will not be processed
as a civil rights complaint and will not be considered a complaint for
determining whether a complaint was timely submitted.
To file a discrimination complaint on interactions with USDA, you
can complete the form: <a href="https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Complain_combined_6_8_12_508.pdf">https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Complain_combined_6_8_12_508.pdf</a>. You may submit the
discrimination complaint to USDA by any of the following methods:
Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Center for Civil
Rights Enforcement, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-
9410.
Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f383819c9481929edd9a9d87929896b386809792dd949c85"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="29595b464e5b48440740475d48424c695c5a4d48074e465f">[email protected]</span></a>.
If you need any assistance completing the form, call the following
phone numbers:
<bullet> (202) 260-1026 (Local),
<bullet> (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service),
<bullet> (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), or
<bullet> (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).
USDA Non-Discrimination Policy
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, USDA, its
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital
status, family or parental status, income derived from a public
assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for
prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or
funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and
complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication for program information (for example, braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the
responsible agency or USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 or 844-433-
2774 (toll-free nationwide). Additionally, program information may be
made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at <a href="https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint">https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint</a> and
at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in
the letter all the information requested in the form. To request a copy
of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form
or letter to USDA by mail to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of
the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20250-9410 or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ce818f8d8ebbbdaaafe0a9a1b8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e4aba5a7a491978085ca838b92">[email protected]</span></a>.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Elizabeth C. Archuleta,
Director, Office of Intergovernmental & External Affairs, U.S.
Department of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2021-12612 Filed 6-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-90-P
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